Note (October 2026): Vue CLI is now in maintenance mode and Vuex has been replaced by Pinia as the official state library, so the list below has been updated with the tools the Vue team currently recommends.
The most useful Vue.js developer tools are create-vue with Vite for starting projects, Nuxt for full-stack and server-rendered apps, Vue Router for routing, Pinia for state management, Vitest and Vue Test Utils for testing, and Vue DevTools for debugging. As of October 2026, the Vue documentation treats Vue CLI and Vuex as maintenance-mode tools for older projects.
Key Takeaways
- New Vue projects are scaffolded with create-vue (npm create vue@latest), which sets up a Vite-based project; Vue CLI is in maintenance mode.
- Pinia is the official state management library; Vuex still works but receives no new features.
- The Vue docs recommend Vitest for unit tests, Vue Test Utils for component tests and Playwright or Cypress for end-to-end tests.
- Vue DevTools is available as a browser extension, a Vite plugin and a standalone app.
- Vue 2 reached end of life on December 31, 2023, so new work should target Vue 3.
The demand for Vue JS technology is driven by several practical factors – simplicity, ease, integration, many libraries, tools, and so on. Vue is easiest to learn for developers who already know the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript; the official Vue documentation assumes that familiarity.
A specialist vue js development company can explain whether a Vue-based web application suits a particular project and why. As with any vendor, compare portfolios, references and contract terms before hiring, because no agency is equally strong at every kind of work.
What specific VueJS tools should you look into?
Every front-end framework comes with its own ecosystem of tools. If the client wants to pick up VueJS technology, the 11 tools below cover the main jobs in a Vue project: scaffolding, full-stack rendering, components, routing, state, HTTP requests, UI, data, testing, debugging and documentation.
- Vue CLI (command line interface). Vue CLI is the official webpack-based toolchain for Vue, but as of October 2026 the Vue documentation says it is in maintenance mode and recommends starting new projects with Vite through create-vue (npm create vue@latest). A command-line scaffolding tool saves setup time, but it is not strictly required to build a Vue app. Vue CLI offered instant prototyping, ready-made unit and end-to-end testing setups and compatibility with many third-party plugins, and projects did not need to be ejected to customize it. Thanks to this, you can create a new project or manage the same project without problems.
- Nuxt (Nuxt.js). To start creating a web product, you need to take the first step – set up the appropriate template. By using a template, you can avoid having to write code from scratch (no need to spend extra time on this). Nuxt is not limited to single-page apps: it describes itself as the full-stack Vue framework, with file-based routing, auto-imports and server-side (universal) rendering configured out of the box, and it also supports client-side rendering. As of October 2026 the current major version is Nuxt 4.
- Bit for Vue. Bit is a platform for building and sharing reusable components, which teams use to manage component libraries and micro frontends. In essence, this is compatibility and the ability to make a version of a web program that will be updated in the future, have a decent user interface, have its own elements, tools, versions.
- Vue Router. Vue Router is the official router for Vue.js. It maps URLs to components and supports static and dynamic routes with fine-grained navigation control. That is, the developer can provide smooth transition effects for convenient use of the application.
- State management (Vuex and Pinia). Vuex integrates with the official Vue devtools to provide zero-config time-travel debugging and state snapshot export and import. As of October 2026, the Vue documentation says Vuex is in maintenance mode and recommends Pinia, which is maintained by the Vue core team, for new applications. The developer can run a cycle of exporting and importing snapshots of the state so that the state can be fixed.
- HTTP requests. A third-party library is commonly used to create and manage AJAX (HTTP) requests; a widely used example is Axios, a promise-based HTTP client for the browser and Node.js.
- UI component libraries. A component library gives a project ready-made, styled interface elements; Vuetify, which describes itself as a Vue component framework, is one example. In fact, the presence of SSR support, which is built in, will greatly simplify the selection in the library of those elements that will improve the appearance, elegance, and architecture of the application.
- Vue Apollo. Vue Apollo connects Vue apps to GraphQL APIs. According to its documentation, it supports the Options API, Composition API and components, updates the UI automatically and can run queries on the server before the page is rendered.
- Testing tools. Tests confirm that a web application works without errors after each change; they reveal bugs so developers can fix them. As of October 2026, the Vue documentation recommends Vitest for unit tests, Vue Test Utils (@vue/test-utils) for component tests, and Playwright or Cypress for end-to-end tests.
- Vue.js DevTools for Browsers. Vue DevTools lets developers inspect the component tree, component state and state-management events, and profile performance; it is available as a browser extension, a Vite plugin and a standalone Electron app. It is debugging that is needed in order to make the process of creating software more efficient.
- The Complete Guide to Vue.js. Strictly speaking this is a learning resource rather than a tool. The official Vue.js documentation at vuejs.org, with its guide, tutorial, examples and API reference, is the most reliable starting point because the Vue team keeps it current.
When hiring a specialized company such as https://devoxsoftware.com/ or any other agency, put the timeline, deliverables and agreed terms of reference in writing; a written contract, not a promise, is what protects the schedule.
Remember that the technical task is the main tool that the specialist relies on, so think it over clearly. As for the budget for web development, this is often decided on an individual basis, since everything depends on the number of stages, complexity and other details of the project.
Which Vue.js Tools Are Current?
The Vue ecosystem changed after the move from Vue 2 to Vue 3. The table below shows the status of each tool type as described in the official Vue documentation and the tools’ own sites, as of October 2026.
| Job | Recommended tool | Older or alternative tool | Status note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project scaffolding | create-vue (Vite) | Vue CLI (webpack) | Vue CLI is in maintenance mode |
| Full-stack and SSR apps | Nuxt | – | Nuxt 4 is the current major version |
| Routing | Vue Router | – | Official router |
| State management | Pinia | Vuex | Vuex works but gets no new features |
| Unit tests | Vitest | Jest | Jest suggested only for migrating existing suites |
| Component tests | Vue Test Utils, Cypress Component Testing | Testing Library | Vue docs advise caution with Testing Library and Suspense |
| End-to-end tests | Playwright, Cypress | Nightwatch | Selenium-based tools are slower |
| Debugging | Vue DevTools | – | Extension, Vite plugin or standalone app |
| Editor support | Vue – Official (VS Code) | Vetur | Disable Vetur in Vue 3 projects |
How Do You Start a New Vue.js Project?
The official way to start a Vue 3 project is the create-vue scaffolding tool, which builds a Vite-based project. The steps below follow the Vue documentation.
- Install a current version of Node.js (see this overview of what a Node.js course covers if you are new to it).
- Run npm create vue@latest (or the pnpm, Yarn or Bun equivalent).
- Choose the optional features the prompt offers, such as TypeScript, Vue Router, Pinia and a testing setup.
- Install dependencies and start the Vite development server.
- Add the Vue DevTools browser extension or Vite plugin for debugging.
To try Vue without installing anything, the Vue documentation points to the Vue SFC Playground and to Vue + Vite on StackBlitz, which run in the browser.
Which Editor and Linting Tools Does Vue Recommend?
The Vue documentation recommends VS Code with the Vue – Official extension (previously called Volar), which provides syntax highlighting, TypeScript support and IntelliSense for templates. WebStorm also has built-in support for Vue single-file components.
For type checking from the command line, the Vue team provides vue-tsc. For linting, the team maintains eslint-plugin-vue, an ESLint plugin with rules specific to single-file components.
What Happened to Vue 2?
Vue 2 reached end of life on December 31, 2023, according to the Vue team. It no longer receives new features, updates or fixes, although it remains available on CDNs and package managers. Teams still running Vue 2 should plan a migration to Vue 3, and new projects should start on Vue 3.
Common Mistakes When Choosing Vue Tools
- Starting new projects on Vue CLI: the Vue team recommends Vite unless a project depends on webpack-only features.
- Choosing Vuex for a new app: Pinia now fills that role and is maintained by the Vue core team.
- Running Vetur and Vue – Official together: Vetur was the extension for Vue 2 and should be disabled in Vue 3 projects.
- Skipping tests: the Vue documentation advises starting tests early, because adding them later gets harder as dependencies grow.
- Copying old tutorials: many guides written for Vue 2 use tools that have since been replaced, so check the official docs first.
Vue.js Compared With Other Front-End Choices
Vue is one of several popular JavaScript UI frameworks. Teams weighing options often compare it with React; this site’s guide on why teams use React.js for web projects covers the other side. Whatever framework a team picks, browser-based helpers such as a JSON formatter are useful when inspecting API responses during debugging.
If you plan to hire help rather than build in-house, review what to check before hiring a web developer and the core skills freelance web developers need before signing a contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vue CLI still used?
Vue CLI still works, but as of October 2026 the Vue documentation says it is in maintenance mode and recommends starting new projects with Vite through create-vue. Existing Vue CLI projects can keep running or migrate to Vite.
Should I use Pinia or Vuex?
Pinia is the official state management library for Vue and is recommended for new applications. Vuex is in maintenance mode: it still works but will not receive new features. Both can be installed in the same project during a migration.
What is the best testing tool for Vue.js?
The Vue documentation recommends Vitest for unit tests, Vue Test Utils for component tests, and Playwright or Cypress for end-to-end tests. Jest is suggested only for teams migrating an existing Jest suite.
What is Vue DevTools?
Vue DevTools is the official debugging tool for Vue apps. It shows the component tree, component state and state-management events, profiles performance, and is available as a browser extension, a Vite plugin and a standalone Electron app.
What is the difference between Vue and Nuxt?
Vue is a JavaScript framework for building user interfaces, while Nuxt is a full-stack framework built on Vue. Nuxt adds file-based routing, auto-imports and server-side rendering configured out of the box.
Is Vue 2 still supported?
No. Vue 2 reached end of life on December 31, 2023 and no longer receives updates or fixes, so new projects should use Vue 3.
